In World Cup message, Annan hails impact of football on lives of children

1 July 2002 

The worldwide passion for football enables the sport to have a broader impact on the lives of millions around the world, particularly children, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a message to the organizers of the World Cup tournament.

“You have all united the world at least for this month, through our love for this sport,” the Secretary-General said in a message delivered on Friday in Japan on his behalf by Carol Bellamy, the Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).